Digital Commons Network^™

Adult Age Differences In Response To Sociomoral Violations, Alyssa R. Minton

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Moral judgments and emotional reactions to sociomoral violations are heavily impacted by a perpetrator’s intentions, as malicious intent poses a threat to social harmony. Given that older adults are more motivated to maintain interpersonal harmony relative to younger adults, older adults may be more reactive to malicious intentions. In five studies, I investigated adult age differences in moral judgments and emotional reactions to sociomoral violations. In Studies 1-3, participants read scenarios in which a perpetrator either (a) desired to harm another but nothing happened, or (b) harmed another accidentally without malicious intent. Study 2 incorporated additional scenarios designed to evoke …

Edge-Wise Analysis Reveals White Matter Connectivity Associated With Focal To Bilateral Tonic-Clonic Seizures, Sam S. Javidi, Xiaosong He, Ankeeta Ankeeta, Qirui Zhang, Salvatore Citro, Michael R. Sperling, Joseph I. Tracy

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS) represent a challenging subtype of focal temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in terms of both severity and treatment response. Most studies have focused on regional brain analysis that is agnostic to the distribution of white matter (WM) pathways associated with a node. We implemented a more selective, edge-wise approach that allowed for identification of the individual connections unique to FBTCS.

METHODS: T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted images were obtained from 22 patients with solely focal seizures (FS), 43 FBTCS patients, and 65 age/sex-matched healthy participants (HPs), yielding streamline (STR) connectome matrices. We used diffusion tensor-derived STRs …

How Prerequisite Skills Training Affects Math Achievement Scores For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Quasi-Experimental Control Group Study, Timothy Reedy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design, while controlling for math achievement pretest scores, was to investigate the impact prerequisite skills instruction has on math achievement scores for ninth-grade pre-algebra students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in math. While there have been several studies on how prerequisite skills affect students with learning disabilities in elementary school, very little research has extended into high school. Convenience sampling was used in the study and included 70 students from a high school that serves students across the state of Pennsylvania. The Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) was used …

Language Beliefs And Practices Of Caregivers In The Deep South, Maria Maldonado

LSU Master's Theses

The 30 million word gap refers to the disparity in early language exposure between low socioeconomic status (SES) children and their higher SES peers; a gap that is thought to negatively impact children’s language development and future academic success. Although many early intervention approaches have proven effective in promoting language development among low SES children, they often fall short in terms of cultural responsiveness, which in turn affects caregiver buy-in. Culturally and linguistically diverse children disproportionately live in poverty, as such there is a need for research to inform more responsive interventions that take a strengths- based approach and build …

Birkhoff Summation Of Irrational Rotations: A Surprising Result For The Golden Mean, Heather Moore

University Honors Theses

This thesis presents a surprising result that the difference in certain sums of constant rotations by the golden mean approaches exactly 1/5. Specifically, we focus on the Birkhoff sums of these rotations, with the number of terms equal to squared Fibonacci numbers. The proof relies on the properties of continued fraction approximants, Vajda's identity and the explicit formula for the Fibonacci numbers.

Effects Of Dysbiosis And Gut-Derived Hydrogen Sulfide On Cognitive Performance, Kimberly Barnhart, Haley Prather, Stephanie Nitschke, Kayla Julio, Nicolas Shaff, Alexander Birg, Henry Lin, Sephira Ryman, Andrei Vakhtin

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The goal of this project was to examine the effects of gut dysbiosis and gut-derived hydrogen sulfide on cognitive performance in humans. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is known to produce neurotoxic effects in relatively large amounts, yet it is produced by the body in tiny concentrations and has important roles. Here, we examined how moderate levels of H2S produced by gut bacteria may affect cognition.

FUNDING:

This project was supported by the NIGMS Grant P20GM109089 and NINDS Grant R01NS129407

Addressing Chaplain Care And Resiliency As Protective Factors To Burnout In Community Chaplaincy, Robin Jonell Ratcliff

Masters Theses

This paper will address Chaplain Care and Resiliency as Protective Factors to Burnout in Community Chaplaincy. There will be a problem stated, literature review covered on the subject, the results of the assessments, scales, and screening used to address burnout. Then the author discusses training and interventions and shows analysis of said training and interventions.

Sustainable Mining Challenges: Alaska Water Permitting And The United States Green Energy Transition, Morgan Pettit

Alaska Law Review

This Note addresses the myriad of legal and regulatory barriers new mining projects face in Alaska at present. These barriers have become increasingly important at a time when the United States has sought to bolster its domestic mineral supply chain. With over 100 newly located critical mineral deposits, Alaska may be the best place in the United States to establish further domestic sources of critical minerals. By streamlining the regulatory process at both the federal and state level, Alaska can better (1) protect domestic supply chains from global disruptions; (2) maximize the economic benefits of meeting increased global demand for …

Towards Better Local Governance In Alaska's Unorganized Borough, Jake Sherman

Alaska Law Review

Alaska's unorganized borough is the only unincorporated county-equivalent area in the entire United States, but the Alaska Constitution never envisioned that would be the case. The framers of the Alaska Constitution drafted a revolutionary article on local government that prioritized localism—participation in local government—to further democratic engagement in the state. Recognizing that much of rural Alaska lacked the population and infrastructure to support incorporated and localized self-governance in the 1950s, the framers opted not to automatically incorporate the entire state under various borough governments. Even so, the framers made clear that the state was to play an active role in …

Aphid-Ant Relationships: The Role Of Cuticular Hydrocarbons And Different Chemical Stimuli In Triggeringmutualistic Behavior, Amged El-Harairy, Ahmed El-Harairy, Alaa Mahfouz

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

In ant-aphid interactions, various aphid species offer honeydew to the ant partner and increase their density by ant attendance, whilst others never attend ant species, in which case ants tend to treat them as prey. In this regard, ants should have the ability to distinguish myrmecophile aphid species from non-mutualistic species, so that mutualistic aphids will be accepted as partners rather than prey. Although ant-aphid interactions are now the focus of chemical ecology studies, the role of the different chemical stimuli in determining mutualistic interactions has not been completely clarified. Therefore, we have investigated the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of four …

Spectroscopic End Point Detection With An Electron Beam Evaporator, Ryan Mcgraw

University Honors Theses

Spectroscopic end point detection is a common tool used for measuring slope changes in wavelength intensity. Using algorithms able to apply this concept, coatings will be able to be dynamically measured in real time and stopped at the appropriate level to ensure process uniformity. It is currently applied to reductive processes such as etching, where the surface will start to be eaten away, creating a plasma. When the entire amount of a material on a substrate has been eaten away, the plasma will change color as it is beginning to etch a different material. Using a spectrometer, this point where …

Anticipated Intergroup Anxiety & Misattribution Of Arousal, Nazia Khan

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current research attempted to link misattribution of arousal with intergroup anxiety. Specifically, we linked the presence of (i.e., or lack thereof) of sound– a clear misattribute participants can blame their intergroup anxiety on– to anticipating intergroup contact by manipulating the randomly assigned interaction partner and misattribution of arousal sound condition participants were in. Participants viewed a confederate’s name and picture on a screen and anticipated an interaction. Participants’ intercultural interaction comfort was measured as well as their anxiety levels and Stroop task performance. A two-way ANOVA revealed that there was not a statistically significant interaction between the effects of …

Friendship, Fne, And Confronting A Racist Remark, Kaelan J. Vazquez

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current research attempted to link misattribution of arousal with intergroup anxiety. Specifically, we linked the presence of (i.e., or lack thereof) of sound– a clear misattribute participants can blame their intergroup anxiety on– to anticipating intergroup contact by manipulating the randomly assigned interaction partner and misattribution of arousal sound condition participants were in. Participants viewed a confederate’s name and picture on a screen and anticipated an interaction. Participants’ intercultural interaction comfort was measured as well as their anxiety levels and Stroop task performance. A two-way ANOVA revealed that there was not a statistically significant interaction between the effects of …

Strategies For Financial Stability Of Nonprofit Organizations’ Supplemental Education Programs In Rural Tennessee, Latia D. Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Grove Gulch Sedimentation Bay 100% Remedial Design, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Scarlet - Volume Cii, No. 9 (March 22, 2024), Scarlet Staff

The Scarlet (Student Newspaper) (2011-present)

The March 22, 2024 edition of The Scarlet (est. 1939), Clark University's student-run newspaper. The Scarlet is intellectually and editorially independent of the University.

Music Education For All: A Study Of Non-Traditional Music Courses In Secondary Schools, Ormond L. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most elementary schools provide music education to all students at least once a week. Music education has been proven to be beneficial to all students. After elementary school, this benefit is no longer afforded to all students. Many secondary schools only offer music education in the form of ensembles such as band, orchestra, or chorus. Students who do not have the finger dexterity to play an instrument or the aural accuracy to match pitch have no place to receive music education after elementary general music class. Non-traditional music courses such as music technology or music media and industry provide all …

Antislavery White Supremacists And The Mistreatment Of African Americans In Indiana, 1787-1870, Mark A. King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Conventional wisdom holds that Indiana was always predominantly antislavery because it had begun as a territory of the United States under the Northwest Territory Act of 1787, which prohibited slavery; however, this is incorrect. This northern state had about as much proslavery sentiment as most states in the South. The state wrestled with the issue in the legislative session after the legislative session and court case after court case for decades during the antebellum period. Prominent settlers and state organizers petitioned Congress to allow the Indiana Territory to become a slave region. After statehood, proslavery forces continued to push for …

Blacks' Intergenerational Trauma Triggered By Police Misconduct, Anselma Johnayala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A plethora of studies on intergenerational trauma and a nascent body of studies regarding policing are amalgamated in this phenomenological research approach. This phenomenological study aimed to understand the adverse experiences of Black individuals’ interactions with law enforcement and how these involvements contribute to the transmission of trauma. The intergenerational trauma of Blacks’ experiences could be processed through Critical Race Theory (CRT), Personal Construct Theory (PCT), and Bowen’s Multigenerational Family Systems Theory (BMFST). Each theory explains the relationship between a person’s experiences, the generational response and functioning, and the existence of racial bias as proliferated in the oppression of one …

Parent And Teacher Perspectives On Attachment/Relationships And Children's Self-Regulation, Elaina Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parent-child attachment and teacher-child relationships had individually shown an impact on children’s self-regulation. There has been little research, however, showing the impact of the parents’ and teachers’ attachment/relationship on children’s self-regulation at both home and school. This qualitative descriptive study examined the relationship between both the parent and teacher attachment/relationship with self-regulation in children 1-4 years old. Participants included 6 parents (mothers and fathers) with a child in childcare and 5 teachers of these children. Participants took part in a 30–40-minute semi-structured interview that was transcribed. The parents’ and teachers’ descriptions and perceptions of their relationship/attachment with the child, the …

Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace trauma can take place in various forms including abusive supervision or management, workplace bullying, vicarious traumatization, violence, compassion burnout, and workplace stress. For the most part, the perpetrators of these incidents can either be strangers, peers, or management within the organization. The aftermath of workplace trauma can be detrimental to a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and cause work-related issues. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the personal experiences of those in the mental health field who have been traumatized in the workplace specifically by the management within the organization. This study was directed …

A Structured Handoff Report And Its Impact On Patient Experience, Gary N. Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past decade, a fast-moving industry has challenged hospital health systems. Today, hospitals are measured on the effectiveness of healthcare delivery ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety. In addition to the delivery of effective healthcare, hospitals are now accountable for the overall patient experience, a system known as value-based purchasing. Value-based purchasing directly impacts the overall financial status of any healthcare organization and is based on data collected from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). Nursing practice can significantly influence the overall impact and outcomes of value-based purchasing by helping with an improvement of HCAHPS. One …

My Name Is Pamela Jean: Impacting The Culture Of Life Through Storytelling, Debra D. Watkins

Masters Theses

The research completed for this study provides the opportunity to compare and contrast the views of pro-life and pro-choice storytellers who seek to impact the culture of life relating to abortion and abortion rights through the genres of movies and screenwriting. The Critical Essay section explores the debate on abortion and the sanctity of life as viewed through the literary framework of feminism and opposing worldviews. The Craft Element is an original screenplay submitted to enhance the understanding of how movies can impact moviegoers regarding abortion and the sanctity of life. The screenplay seeks to provide a strong pro-life message …

Shaping Character: The Role Of Mythology In Society, Jaclyn Weist

Masters Theses

Throughout history, man has told stories. Some stories were written on walls, tablets, or bits of parchment. Others have been passed down to posterity through oral tradition. Every culture worldwide has a rich tapestry of legends and myths. It is my intent to demonstrate that these stories use the tools of character development within their various plot lines to both express and shape beliefs, superstitions, and life lessons. Whether they are religious in nature or simply trying to make sense of the world, these stories, myths, and legends have played a part in shaping society into what it is today.

Ex-Vivo Hippocampus Segmentation Using Diffusion-Weighted Mri, Haoteng Tang, Siyuan Dai, Eric M. Zou, Guodong Liu, Ryan Ahearn, Ryan Krafty, Michel Modo, Liang Zhan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The hippocampus is a crucial brain structure involved in memory formation, spatial navigation, emotional regulation, and learning. An accurate MRI image segmentation of the human hippocampus plays an important role in multiple neuro-imaging research and clinical practice, such as diagnosing neurological diseases and guiding surgical interventions. While most hippocampus segmentation studies focus on using T1-weighted or T2-weighted MRI scans, we explore the use of diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI), which offers unique insights into the microstructural properties of the hippocampus. Particularly, we utilize various anisotropy measures derived from diffusion MRI (dMRI), including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, for …

A Global Meta-Analysis Of Ecological Effects From Offshore Marine Artificial Structures, Anaëlle J. Lemasson, Paul J. Somerfield, Michaela Schratzberger, Murray S.A. Thompson, Louise B. Firth, Elena Couce, C. Louise Mcneill, Joana Nunes, Christine Pascoe, Stephen C.L. Watson, Antony M. Knights

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine artificial structures (MAS), including oil and gas installations (O&G) and offshore wind farms (OWFs), have a finite operational period. Selecting the most suitable decommissioning options when reaching end-of-life remains a challenge, in part because their effects are still largely undetermined. Whether decommissioned structures could act (sensu ‘function’) as artificial reefs (ARs) and provide desired ecological benefits is of particular interest. Here we use a meta-analysis approach of 531 effect sizes from 109 articles to assess the ecological effects of MAS, comparing O&G and OWFs to shipwrecks and ARs, with a view to inform their decommissioning. This synthesis demonstrates that …

Discerning Impact Of Secular Humanism On Pastoral Counseling, Stephen Ganschow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral care has existed in some form for generations, dating most precisely back to the New Testament writings of Paul, the Apostle. Religious people-helping approaches thus endured in some form until a dramatic shift occurred in the late 1700s, with the onset of the Enlightenment. This historic phenomenon resulted in an aggressive cultural adjustment to understand the self and its distresses apart from religious orientation, instead favoring a humanistic orientation. Yet, pastoral counseling has endured and adapted in an effort to remain a viable means of serving people in distress. In modernity, pastoral care and counseling now exists within a …

Cyber Defense Planning In Tabletop Exercises And Consideration Of A Fractured Flaw Theory For Security Applications, Patrick K. Kilroy Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cybersecurity threats endanger every part of American life. Security and emergency preparedness professionals plan and prevent cyber-attacks using tabletop exercises. The tabletop exercises establish the risks and protection strategies for multiagency threats, thus, various agencies and industrial partners must work together in these training events. The purpose of this grounded study will be to develop criteria for selecting tabletop participants and explore the risks of participation. An additional consideration is the impact of the sponsoring agencies' agenda on the value of the outcome for the participants. There is sufficient evidence to justify the investigation of these issues. Failing to include …

Moderated Mediated Model Of Religiosity, God Image, And Self Compassion, Amanda Strivings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Religious engagement can be a protective factor as well as contribute to negative mental health outcomes in religious populations. Early experiences in the parent-child relationship influence how individuals view God, which influences how they emotionally experience and engage with religion. Previous research has explored the relationships between religiosity, view of God, and self-compassion. This study explored the influence of three separate views of God on the cross-generational maintenance of religiosity and as sociocultural factors that influence self-compassion within the context of religiosity. Results supported several direct and indirect relationships. The analysis included one simple mediation model to explore the mediating …

Emulating Paul’S Ministry Leadership In A Diverse And Changing Cultural Landscape, Mark J. Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry project is to train ministry leaders by studying the cross-cultural leadership characteristics of Apostle Paul. Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church is part of the sad statistic of traditional churches that have been declining for the past thirty years. This will continue unless leaders of the church embrace the diverse culture and nature of the surrounding community. Cross-cultural leadership is needed in this time of multi-cultural communities and there is no one better than Paul to demonstrate this indispensable cross-cultural ministry paradigm. If leaders at Central are trained and motivated to embrace Paul’s cross-cultural …